The
72nd Infantry Brigade was organized with the 36th Division at Camp Bowie,
Fort Worth, Texas, in July, 1917. The Third Texas Infantry and the Fourth
Texas Infantry, both of which had been serving on the Mexican Border since
May, 1916, were brought to Camp Bowie and combined with the recently
organized units to make up the three units of the brigade, which were the
133rd Machine Gun Battalion, 143rd Infantry and 144th Infantry.

The
brigade, commanded by Brigadier General John A. Hulen, who had commanded
the Texas Brigade on the Mexican Border, trained at Camp Bowie until the
36th Division was moved to France in July and August, 1918. On arrival in
France, the brigade was billeted in the 13th training area near Bar-sur-Aube
until September 26, when it was moved with the division to the area
between Epernay and Chalons. The Meuse-Argonne offensive was under way
only a short distance to the north. The American attack was being aided by
the Fourth French Army in the Champagne sector. The resistance to the
American advance in the Champagne sector was severe, the Second Division
having suffered heavy losses, and its advance having been held up in the
vicinity of Blanc Mont and St. Etienne.

The
36th Division was transferred to the Fourth French Army. The 71st Brigade
relieved the Second Division on the night of October 6, between St.
Etienne and Medeah Farme. The 71st Brigade attacked on the morning of
October 8 and made substantial gains toward Mechault.

The
remainder of the division, including the 72nd Infantry Brigade, completed
the relief of the Second Division, and the command of the sector passed to
the 36th Division on October 10. Between 5 and 6 p.m., October 10, the
72nd Brigade passed through the 71st and attacked in the direction of
Mechault and Conroy. The attack was severely resisted but resulted in a
slight advance before dark. Under pressure of the brigade, the following
morning, the enemy began his retreat to the north in the direction of
Ducourt and Ettigny. The 72nd Brigade took up the pursuit, and lively rear
guard action followed between St. Etienne and Mechault, which resulted in
the encircling of the latter town and the establishment of lines to the
north of it. The following day, the brigade pushed forward to Hill No.
167, northwest of Vaux Champagne, overlooking the valley of the Aisne from
Ettigny to Givry from which position patrols were pushed out to the canal.

The
enemy was strongly entrenched on the northern bank of the Aisne and had
taken every precaution to prevent a crossing. The 71st Brigade went into
the line on the 15th, taking over the front of the 73rd French Division to
the east of the 72nd Brigade. Thus the line of the 36th Division was
established with the brigades abreast; the 72nd on the west, and extending
along the slope of Hill No. 167 approximately four kilometers from the
Aisne. On the 27th, Foret Farme, a stronghold south of the river, which
the enemy had stubbornly defended, was stormed and the entire garrison
killed or captured.

The
72nd Brigade was relieved with the 36th Division on October 26. The
brigade was assembled in the Suippes-Somme-Suippes area, and from this
point moved to the Triancourt area. Here the brigade remained until the
signing of the Armistice. Shortly after the Armistice, the brigade moved
with the division to the 16th training area near Tonnerre, returning home
in the spring of 1919, and was mustered out of service at Camp Bowie.

On
the reorganization of the 36th Division, the brigade was reorganized, and
was Federally recognized on November 8, 1922. Under the new tables of
organization, the Brigade Machine Gun Battalions were eliminated. Except
for this change, and for the addition of the Brigade Headquarters Company,
the brigade was reorganized as it was for war service; that is, it was
composed of the 143rd and 144th Infantry, and such is its present
organization.

The
brigade has been commanded as follows: Brigadier General John A. Hulen
commanded the brigade from the time of its organization in 1917, through
the period of its service at the front in France. General Hulen returned
home because of urgent business in April, 1919. Major L. R. Bryan, Jr.,
was adjutant and Lieutenant George D. Sears assistant adjutant of the
brigade during its frontline service. Brigadier General George H. Jamerson
of the Regular Army succeeded General Hulen and commanded the brigade
until it was mustered out of Federal service.

Brigadier
General George P. Rains commanded the brigade on its reorganization in
1922, and remained in command until he assumed command of the 36th
Division on September 9, 1935. Brigadier General Oscar E. Roberts
succeeded General Rains and commanded the brigade until his retirement on
May 20, 1939. Brigadier General Preston A. Weatherred succeeded General
Roberts and now commands the brigade.